Golf bag with electronics support capability

ABSTRACT

A golf bag (B) has a pocket ( 14 ) adjacent its mouth (M). An electronic device having a camera that fits in the pocket with the camera portion extending out of the pocket for filming a golfer. An external power source ( 10 ) installed in the bag for powering the device. A cable ( 20 ) routed through an interior of the bag between the power source and electronic device for the device to be connected to the power source.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on, and claims the benefit of, U.S. provisional patent application 62/739,439 filed Oct. 1, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to golf bags used by golfers to hold their clubs and other items worn or used during a round of golf; and, more particularly, to a golf bag capable of providing power to one or more electronic devices including cell phones, ipads and the like with a camera feature of such devices being used to film a golfer during their practice or play. An external source of power such as, for example, a battery pack is installed in a pocket of the golf bag for connection to the electronic devices.

Many golfers now typically carry a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or other electronics with them when they go to the golf course to practice or play a round of golf. For example, a golfer will now use their cell phone, ipad or device with a camera to photograph or film them during their practice or play. It is further now commonplace for the golfer to bring a Bluetooth® speaker to the course to listen to music during their practice or play. Similarly, it is now also commonplace for a golfer to have a GPS device available to help them navigate their way around the course by readily determining distances to the green, or a bunker or other hazard they wish to avoid. As sometimes occurs, the device may run out of battery power at some point during the round and need to be recharged.

Currently, golf bags do not include the capability to provide power to such devices so the golfer can conveniently use them, or charge them, if necessary during their practice or round. It would be helpful, therefore, to provide an external power source with which is readily fitted in a golf bag with these devices being easily attached to the source of power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to a golf bag having a power capability and providing connectability from an external power source stored in the bag to one or more electrical outlets affixed to the bag at locations convenient for a golfer to connect an electronic device to the outlet to either charge the device or power the device.

The external power source is stored in a pouch of the golf bag and one end of a power cord is removably attached to the power source. The other end of the cord attaches to at least one electrical outlet located for example, near the mouth of the bag, on the inside or outside of the bag, so to be convenient for the golfer to connect their electronic device to the outlet to charge the device. Or, the electronic device is connected to the outlet for the device to operate from the electricity provided by the power source.

Power is DC power provided by the power source which is readily removed from the bag for easy replacement. This power capability is particularly useful for a golfer wanting to film their practice or play using an electronic device installed in a pocket of the bag.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in point pointed out hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, together with detailed description which follows, form part of the specification and illustrate the various embodiments described in the specification.

FIG. 1 illustrates a golf bag with electronic device connectability to a power source installed in the bag; and;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate various outlet installations on the golf bag.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it will be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Referring to the drawings, a golf bag B is configured to enable a golfer to connect and/or use a golfer's electronic devices such as a cell phone, ipad, camera, etc. (all not shown). These devices are used by the golfer during a round of play or practice. An external battery pack or power pack 10 provides a source of electrical power for supplying electricity to the electrical devices installed in the bag.

As shown in FIG. 1, golf bag B is in an upright position with golf clubs (not shown) being placed in the bag through a mouth M or opening in the top of the bag. A vertically oriented handle 12 is located partway down the side of the bag is used to grip and carry the bag. A strap (not shown) which attaches to the top and bottom base of the bag is also used for this purpose.

Located on a side of the bag slightly below the top of the bag is a pocket 14. The pocket 14 may be a separate piece of material attached to the side of the bag, or integrally molded with the top portion of the bag. The pocket is open at its top. Pocket 14 is sized so that a cell phone, ipad or camera readily fits in the pocket for safe storage. Further the pocket is sized so that a camera lens of the device inserted in the pocket protrudes above the open, upper end of the pocket. Now, when the golf bag is in its upright position shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device can be readily used for photographing or filming the golfer during their practice or play.

In addition to pocket 14, golf bag B also includes a pocket 16 located near the middle of the length of the bag for installing external power source 10, which may be a battery pack and associated charger, in the bag. Pocket 16 has a zipper or Velcro type closure to secure the power source inside the pocket. The power source installed within pocket is connected to one or more electrical outlets 18. Current is routed internally within the golf bag through one or more cables 20 to outlet ports 18 to which the electrical devices can be connected. One outlet port 18 a is located adjacent the upper mouth end of the bag. Another outlet port 18 b is located within a pocket 22 for holding a cell phone or other electrical device. Storage pocket 22 formed in a lower portion of the golf bag. A third outlet port 18 c is located at pocket 14.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that besides storage pockets 14 and 20, other pockets for holding electronic devices can also be conveniently around the bag.

Next, golf bag B can also have a power strip 26 including one or more outlets to which an electronic device can be connected. The sides of power strip 26 are shaped to conform to the side of the bag B for the power strip to be readily fitted to the outside of bag B, as shown in FIG. 2A, or to the inside of the bag as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2B. In either construction, the power strip is mounted adjacent mouth M of the bag. Placing the power strip near the mouth of bag B makes it easy and convenient to attach an electronic device to a connector on the power strip.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the cable 20 runs through the interior of the golf bag so as not to be exposed to the elements and also not interfere with the golfer pulling golf clubs out of the bag or replacing them in the bag. Doing so further prevents interference with golfer accessing other items stored in the golf bag. As shown in FIG. 2B cable 20 is routed through a covered channel 24 formed on the interior of the bag to protect the cable.

Golf bag B with its port and portal system now enables a golfer to connect any electronic/audio device to their golf bag and allows for the placement of an electronic device for filming the golfer. Pocket 14 is a specifically designed holster which is connected by interior cable routing to the pocket 16 in the lower section of the golf bag where power pack 10 stored. The port and portal system makes it convenient for the golfer to have convenient access to his electronic devices whether for filming practice or play or communicating with others with power to these devices being provided by external power source 10.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects and advantages of the present disclosure have been achieved and other advantageous results have been obtained. 

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. A golf bag for use by a golfer for holding golf clubs and other equipment used by the golfer during a round of golf, the improvement comprising: a pocket formed in the golf bag adjacent a mouth of the bag, the mouth sized to hold a portable electronic device having a camera with the camera of the device extending out of the mouth of the pocket to enable filming of the golfer during their practice or play; an enclosure formed on an outer surface of the bag for removably storing an external power source in the bag, the power source powering the electronic device; and, a cable routed through an interior of the golf bag between the power source and the pocket in which the electronic device is installed so to enable the power source to power the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the pocket and connected to an end of the cable located in the pocket.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 in which the enclosure in which the external power source is installed at a location remote from the electronic device.
 3. The improvement of claim 2 further including at least one electrical connector adjacent the mouth of the bag and attached either to the interior or exterior of the bag for connection of an electronic device to the power source.
 4. The improvement of claim 1 further including at least one additional pocket formed in the golf bag and sized to hold an electronic device with a cable routed through the interior of the golf bag from the power source to the pocket to power the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the pocket and connected to an end in the pocket and connected to an end of the cable located in the pocket. 